Exam periods can naturally be full of apprehension for students. Finals time is crunch time, after all, with end of semester assessments bringing with them another reminder that you’re progressing quickly through your course. And it won’t be long before you’re starting to chart out your own career path as a fresh graduate!
This existential dread paired with exam prep panic can be tricky to wrap your head around. Thankfully, however, turning that apprehension into confidence rather than stress can be done with effective preparation. If you know you’re ready and that you’ve done everything you can to ace your exams, there hopefully shouldn’t be much to worry about.
Beyond setting alarms to wake up on time and getting a good night’s rest, exam revision is the focus of most of your preparation, which is why we’ve prepared this article to share our top exam revision tips to help you ace your finals.
Digital Revision
These days, most of your revision for exams should include using digital files to read course material. With learning CMS systems, it’s just become easier for both tutors and students alike to develop readings and other resources in .pdf format.
So why not keep your revision file formatting just as uniform too? Students can convert from PDF to Word format in order to make documents easier to edit, make notes, add comments and highlight relevant sections. And once your edits have been made, you can easily convert your notes back into PDF format for sharing and archiving. Retaining readings and course materials is the best way to maximize the value of your tertiary education.
Going back to the present, however, it’s best to keep your study resources as flexible as possible to accommodate your own evolving revision style. Mixing your learning environment and types can actually help knowledge stick in the mind, so changing from reading notes and papers to watching videos or listening to recorded lectures and paraphrasing readings so you can put concepts in your own words can all help ensure you develop a stronger understanding of your exam materials.
Ideally, you should also have a folder full of notes and readings that make it easy for you to quickly pull up the information you need, review it and annotate it to absorb the knowledge required for final exam periods. Ensuring your revision notes are in suitable file types can play a major role in supporting your digital revision habits.
Join a Study Group
If you struggle to get motivated to study or find yourself procrastinating about your exam study, one way to solve this problem is to join a dedicated study group with a bunch of your fellow students. This way, you have set times and dates where you all meet to study, and you can encourage and motivate each other to crush those finals.
And drawing on from our earlier point about flexible study resources in .pdf or .docx format, you can even share study notes and give each other pointers on key learning elements that are likely to show up in your final exams or tests. These community vibes will definitely help take the stress out of exam prep, whilst ensuring you can also reap all the benefits of articulating concepts out loud and in contextual conversations with your peers. Collaborative learning is more likely to be memorable and thus effective, than going solo for many students. So if you feel like you could benefit from joining a study group, seek one out well ahead of time to ensure you’ve got a few weeks to build strong rapport with your fellow study mates.
Avoid Cramming
Staying up late to study for long stretches deep into the night (otherwise known as cramming) is proven not to actually be an ineffective method of study. Doing so is actually more likely to tire you out and reduce your capacity to retain information and learn key ideas. Instead, you should schedule regular periods of study for your finals, with ample break time in between for rest.
For instance, study for an hour or two in the morning, followed by a twenty-minute break. Study some more, then have a more extended break for lunch or dinner, and ensure that you allow for some leisure time, too, as a reward for your hard work.
Rest should involve whatever you feel like doing; this might be playing games, reading a fictional book, catching up with friends, watching a film or some streaming shows or simply having a nap. A healthy study schedule with ample breaks beats cramming every time and will improve learning outcomes.
Prepare Your Study Space
To ensure that you’re well-prepared for your final tests or exams, make your study space fit for purpose. Ideally, you want a quiet, low sensory space, free of distractions, with excellent natural lighting and adequate ventilation. Try to choose a room with a window you can crack open to let in some fresh air, depending on the weather outside. Consider a lamp, too, so the space is well-lit even at night.
Your study space should also ideally be free from any recreational tech or other distractions. The last thing you want when revising for your finals is to be distracted by notifications, social media, gaming, or other temptations that are classic ‘after exam’ activities. So pop your phone in your desk drawer and keep it on silent or vibrate. You can set your phone and computer to only send a notification if someone you want to be able to reach tries, such as a close friend or family member.
Alongside this digital detox, your study space should also generally be kept clean, tidy, and free of clutter in order to create a sense of calm and centeredness. Invest in a comfortable chair that offers back support for your comfort, and consider the ergonomics of the space. And if you’re using a laptop to study for your finals, ensure that you use an external keyboard and monitor so you don’t strain your hands, neck or back.
And speaking of investing in your own comfort, remember that your space should be inviting and supportive as well as task-oriented too. You could add in a water filter to ensure you stay hydrated during long revision stretches. Maybe place some healthy snacks and fruits in a bowl so you don’t need to take a break while you’re on a roll.
Take a Practice Run
Finally, as finals are usually timed, it may be worth taking a practice run by setting yourself some questions or essay topics and sitting down to answer them to a timer. This way, you’ll get used to the pressure of the timer. You will be able to efficiently and effectively write your responses before you run out of time. It’ll also be a great way to test your knowledge and identify where you need more revision.
To create your mock exam questions, you can use example questions in your textbooks or the questions used in practice papers. And if you’re part of a study group, why not take turns preparing mock essay questions and other practice material for each other? That way, you can basically test each other’s competencies and knowledge simultaneously, resulting in faster and more engaged exam revision where everyone can readily share their own unique takeaways from course materials.
A Revision Summary
Exams can be a challenging time whether it’s your first year of college, final year or anything in between. When preparing for your upcoming exams, remember that rest and structured revision are much better strategies than long periods of cramming. It’s also helpful to mix up your learning formats, take practice tests with a timer and do things you love doing to help bring more peace into a potentially stressful time. And, while it’s much easier said than done, try to relax and rest well the night before and the morning of your exam. Revise well and do your best, but remember, exams are just one aspect of your studies, so try not to put too much pressure on yourself.